Total Playtime is a podcast about videogames, mostly, hosted by games industry veterans Alice Bell, Nate Crowley and Jon Hicks. Join them for discussion of the latest and most interesting PC and indie games, grumbles about the state of games media, and impromptu quizzes dredged from the unknowable depths of Nate's brain. Public episodes are released every two weeks, and if you <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/TotalPlaytimePodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a> you'll get weekly episodes. Send us questions, ideas and feedback at totalplaytimepod@gmail.com, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/totalplaytime.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">follow us on BlueSky</a> if you like. <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Total Playtime
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Podcast Overview
Total Playtime is a podcast about videogames, mostly, hosted by games industry veterans Alice Bell, Nate Crowley and Jon Hicks. Join them for discussion of the latest and most interesting PC and indie games, grumbles about the state of games media, and impromptu quizzes dredged from the unknowable depths of Nate's brain. Public episodes are released every two weeks, and if you <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/TotalPlaytimePodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">support us on Patreon</a> you'll get weekly episodes. Send us questions, ideas and feedback at totalplaytimepod@gmail.com, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/totalplaytime.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">follow us on BlueSky</a> if you like. <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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Publishing Since
1/16/2025
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Recent Episodes
July 9, 2026
Episode 38: Call the Waspman
<p>Total Playtime is now the official <a href="https://www.jank.cool">Jank </a>podcast, and is produced through the munificence of our paying subscribers (and formerly our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/totalplaytimepodcast">backers on Patreon</a>). This week’s episode is free, but subscribers get additional episodes every other week. You may join them by <a href="https://www.jank.cool/#/portal/signup">subscribing here</a>, and you can find <a href="https://www.jank.cool/tag/podcasts/">all previous episodes here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p>This week we started recording mere hours after Xbox started firing people, so we didn’t have the full despair reserves to draw on but we managed to discuss it anyway. We also mourned the loss of the corporeal, as represented by Sony’s announcement they’re ceasing disc production, and celebrated the spiritual, as represented by Alice’s potentially magical waspman. </p><p><br></p><p>There’s also an exclusive tease of an upcoming Jank article, and it’s right at the start so you don’t even have to keep listening – although of course you should because there’s so much to learn here about Nate discovering horny Marvel artwork. Plus: getting vouched for by a non-naughty priest, drinking a pint of wasps, piracy for the greater good, wholesome role models for 40-year-old men having feelings, and giggle-based social deduction. </p><p><br></p><p>Our music is by God Ribbon, our editing is by Alix Attenborough, and our art is by Marsh Davies - and now freshly updated to add a tiny image of Brendy to your pod-listening device. Thanks to our backers on Patreon and Jank for enabling the podcast to exist. You can send feedback and your own preferred social insect suggestions to <a href="mailto:totalplaytimepod@gmail.com">totalplaytimepod@gmail.com</a>, or simply comment on this article. </p><p><br></p><p>Links!</p><p>The 'Physical' edition of GTAVI costs £70 and<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrg52egw1ro"> won't have a disc</a>. Bees are <a href="https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/blog/post/the-story-behind-the-manchester-bee-and-why-it-s-used-everywhere-in-the-city/">worshipped in Manchester</a>. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/02/vatican-excommunicates-all-members-of-ultra-conservative-rebels-sspx">Schism! Schism! Schism!</a> Hit Points <a href="https://newsletter.hitpoints.co/383-paradise-lost/">on GTA 6</a>. Nick Harkway’s <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/angelmaker-nick-harkaway/0e436023cea7ab5b?ean=9780099538097">Angelmaker</a>. <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-to-discontinue-physical-discs-for-new-games-launching-on-ps-consoles-from-january-2028"> Sony are discontinuing dics</a>. Unfortunately Sony also want you to know that you<a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/06/sony-erases-digital-content-from-libraries-were-reminded-we-dont-own-what-we-buy/"> don't own digital things</a>. Xbox has the chance to do<a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/remembering-sonys-iconic-this-is-how-you-share-games-on-ps4-video-as-playstation-kills-discs-13-years-later"> the funniest thing ever</a>, if they weren't still busy <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/xbox-layoffs-july-2026">deciding who to fire</a>.<a href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-video-game-history-foundation-calls-on-the-esa-to-offer-meaningful-solutions-for-preserving-digital-only-games"> What fate our games</a>? Arkane has the benefit of formidablé employment legislation so their <a href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/while-several-xbox-studios-regained-independence-or-found-new-owners-yesterday-arkanes-staff-must-negotiate-their-own-future">future is uncertain</a>. You can’t fire Ted Gill <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/subnautica-2-studio-unknown-worlds-ceo-resigns-as-krafton-agrees-to-pay-250m-bonus?">because he quit</a>, and the Subnautica devs are <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-01/krafton-agrees-to-pay-subnautica-2-bonuses-as-developer-s-ceo-resigns">all getting a bonus</a> because the Krafton CEO <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/18/subnautica-2-publisher-krafton-ceo-reinstated-ai-chatgpt-failed-bid-avoid-paying-bonus">took legal advice from ChatGPT</a>. When Captain America <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/marvel-rivals-players-suspect-captain-americas-summer-sausage-has-already-been-downsized/">swings his mighty dick</a>. Brendy <a href="https://www.jank.cool/wall-e-review-2008/">reviewed Wall-E (2008)</a>. Crate and Crowbar <a href="https://crateandcrowbar.com/2026/06/06/episode-457-theres-no-stick-in-this-lolly/">discussed 007 First Light</a>. Here is Nirvana The Band The Show <a href="https://commiegoth.tumblr.com/post/166194138476/vice-has-been-takin-down-stuff-from-the-original">singing game titles to the Wii shop music</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Games!</p><p><a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hot-wheels-unlimited/id1523486249">Hot Wheels Unlimited</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3768760/007_First_Light/">007 First Light</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/331750/DisneyoPixar_WALLE/">Wall-E</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4704690/MECCHA_CHAMELEON/">Meccha Chameleon</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1509230/Prop_Hunt/">Prop Hunt</a>. </p><p><br></p><p>Recommendations!</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvanna_the_Band_the_Show_the_Movie">Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie</a>. <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-devils-2025-s-epic-fantasy-sensation-prepare-for-a-wickedly-dark-and-twisted-adventure-joe-abercrombie/ae2fd732ba4c053f">The Devils</a>. Get a <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.com/">Raspberry Pi</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrainUnblockers">The Drain Unblockers</a>. </p>
June 25, 2026
Episode 37: Mr Beast's Beef Lumps
<p>Total Playtime is a weekly podcast about PC games, formerly funded by Patreon and now part of Jank. This is a free episode, but premium episodes are published every two weeks and are only available to paying subscribers. You can <a href="https://www.jank.cool/about/#/portal/">join them over here</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>The prodigal dad returns! Yes, Brendy finally got enough sleep to return to podcasting with his newly minted As A Father Of A Daughter viewpoint, meaning that we are now tied in a dead heat between parents and what I’ll generously call “free spirits”. </p><p><br></p><p>There was too much news this week, to the point where we even snuck in some commentary about Kier Starmer. It’s only brief, though, as we move on to considering the social media ban and the associated elevated risk of teens becoming cool hackers, the head of AI who thinks generative AI is bullshit, and what was at the time the latest bad news for Xbox although characteristically they’ve pulled some more out since. </p><p><br></p><p>Plus: the Steam Machine, Nate’s narc child, and please don’t touch my grass. Please ask your doctor if having a baby is right for you. Thanks to all the Patreon and Jank backers who made this happen, the podcast would not exist without you. Thanks also to Alix Attenborough for the editing, Marsh Davies for the art and God Ribbon for the music. Submit parenting advice of any quality to <a href="mailto:totalplaytimepod@gmail.com">totalplaytimepod@gmail.com</a> or in the comments below.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Links</strong>!</p><p><br></p><p>The UK is banning social<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fact-sheet-new-rules-to-protect-children-online/fact-sheet-new-rules-to-protect-children-online"> media for under 16s</a> and the gaming impact is <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ukie-hails-video-games-being-classed-separately-from-social-media-as-uk-government-announces-ban">somewhat unclear</a>. Poncle are<a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/fortnite-gen-ai-vampire-survivors-collaboration-reviewed-epic-poncle"> 'reviewing' their collab with Epic</a>. The former head of Take Two's AI division <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/my-worry-is-that-generative-ai-is-poisoning-the-well-take-twos-former-head-of-ai-shares-his-concerns-on-the-current-hype-cycle">says it's 'poisoning the well'</a>, and a bunch of game devs<a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/games/why-so-many-game-developers-dont-want-to-use-generative-ai/"> hate it</a>. Ed Zitron has <a href="https://www.wheresyoured.at/">many thousands of words about why OpenAI is full of shit</a>. Tommy Thonson covers the <a href="https://www.aiandgames.com/">good AI in games</a>. A superficial level look suggests an AI disclosure on your game means<a href="https://www.game-oracle.com/blog/ai-part2"> 60% fewer reviews</a>. What <a href="https://www.unrealengine.com/news/state-of-unreal-2026-top-news-from-the-show">happened at State of Unreal</a>. Here’s GI.biz on rising genAI costs and what uses<a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/as-ai-costs-rise-theres-little-evidence-of-major-utility-in-game-development-opinion"> it actually has in game dev</a>. The Steam Machine <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-steam-machine-price-starts-at-1049-879-original-pricing-no-longer-viable-due-to-hardware-supply-issues">is pretty pricey</a> but it’s okay, you can’t buy one anyway. Here’s <a href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-machine-review">James’ review</a>. Valve <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-steam-machine-was-originally-meant-to-cost-about-750">probably wanted it to be $750</a> which it turns out is like £570. <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-cofounder-claude-guillemot-dies">Claude Guillemot</a> and<a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bobby-prince-doom-video-game-composer-dead-obituary-1235581084/"> Bobby Prince</a> recently died. The Microsoft gaming<a href="https://mashable.com/entertainment/xbox-studio-closures-negotiations-independence"> closure rumours</a> will continue until morale improves. <a href="http://videogameschronicle.com/news/a-pop-up-valorant-themed-pub-run-by-uk-youtuber-big-john-opens-in-london-this-weekend/">Big John Valorant Pub Pop Up</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Games</strong>!</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2950790/IRON_NEST_Heavy_Turret_Simulator/">Iron Nest</a> and <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3905500/Beware_of_the_Cartographer/">Beware of the Cartographer!</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Recommendations</strong>!</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/gelatelli-mini-sticks-double-caramel-and-chocolate-6-pack/p10046097">Gelatelli Mini Sticks Double</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pitt">The Pitt</a>, <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-bells-of-westminster-leonora-nattrass/7636848">The Bells of Westminster</a>, <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/for-whom-the-spell-tolls/alice-bell/9781805463528">For Whom The Spell Tolls</a>, and Mr Beast’s Beef Lumps.</p>
June 14, 2026
Episode 36: The Devil Is Always Sexy
<p>This week's episode is late, for which we apologise and blame Geoff Keighley because let's face it, he's the one pulling all the strings these days. Jonty was still sat in meeting rooms in LA when this episode was recorded and Brendy is still doing dad things, so it fell to Alice and Nate to judge the output of a week's worth of game showcases despite really wanting to just talk about their dogs instead.</p><p>Thankfully they were both able to struggle through in the face of, once again, entirely too many games. Thrill to Alice's judgement of Geoff Keighley's fashion choices, Nate's denunciation of the crippling lack of ambition in aquarium simulation, and collective theorising on gender division in circus skills. Plus: finally getting a plausible dinosaur survival game, Commander Riker Isolation, and collectibles for a WWI Lego game. Shout out the Pope, you da real Warhammer 40,000 (words).</p><p>This episode is free to all, but it only exists thanks to the generous backing of our Patreons and our partners on <a href="http://www.jank.cool/">Jank.cool</a>, to whom we are eternally grateful. Thanks also to God Ribbon for the music, Marsh Davies for the artwork and Alix Attenborough for the editing. If you are Games Methusula, present your receipts at <a href="mailto:totalplaytimepod@gmail.com">totalplaytimepod@gmail.com</a>.</p><p><br><strong>Links!</strong><br>You can find all the trailers on <a href="https://gamesrecap.io/">gamesrecap.io</a>. Nate was referring to PC Gamer's <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/total-war-warhammer-40k-guide/">guide to Total Warhammer 40k</a> although if you're clicking that link post-release it'll be the review because of SEO. You can find the playable... experience of 1666: Amsterdam <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4519690/1666_Amsterdam_Prologue/">on Steam</a>. Here's the pitch for <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/08/magicians-the-devils-deal-details-xbox-games-showcase-2026/">Magicians: The Devil's Deal</a>. Sega is using AI to make the new Crazy Taxi and they are <a href="https://gameinformer.com/sgf-2026/2026/06/08/crazy-taxi-world-tour-producer-clarifies-ai-use">not particularly bothered about it</a>. She Was Such A Good Horse is <a href="https://shewassuchagoodhorse.com/">a very good studio name</a>, not that fussed about the game though.</p><p><strong>Games!</strong><br><a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4110770/Apple_Crumble/">Apple Crumble</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4519690/1666_Amsterdam_Prologue/">1666: Amsterdam</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4744030/Star_Trek_Shadow_Frontier/">Star Trek: Shadow Frontier</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4199910/Total_War_WARHAMMER_40000/">Total War Warhammer 40,000</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4665290/Alien_Isolation_2/">Alien Isolation 2</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1952620/The_Lost_Wild/">The Lost Wild</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2590240/METRO_2039/">Metro 2039</a>. <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2026/06/02/first-look-at-god-of-war-laufey/">Wife of War</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3299300/Magicians_The_Devils_Deal/">Magicians: The Devil's Deal</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2806050/Halo_Campaign_Evolved/">Halo: Campaign Evolved</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2924540/Crazy_Taxi_World_Tour/">Crazy Taxi: World Tour</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3596430/Bancho_the_Chef/">Bancho the Chef</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4394810/DAVE_THE_DIVER__In_the_Jungle_Content_Pack/">Dave The Diver: In The Jungle</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4735760/Vivarium/">Vivarium</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4159720/Hack_95/">Hack '95</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3688240/Pipesexe/">Pipes.exe</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3725190/There_Are_No_Ghosts_at_the_Grand/">No Ghosts At The Grand</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3629430/DREADMOOR/">Dreadmoor</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/4533950/Prove_Youre_Human/">Prove You're Human</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2945040/Shot_One_Fighters/">Shot One Fighters</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1884870/The_Wolf_Among_Us_2/">The Wolf Among Us 2</a>. <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215200/LEGO_Batman_Legacy_of_the_Dark_Knight/">Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight</a>.</p><p><strong>Recommendations!</strong><br><a href="https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/king-arthur-history-and-legend">King Arthur: History and Legend</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LxrZncFlQU">Your Least Favourite Person's Favourite Book</a>.</p>
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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